Meet our Executive Board

Our executive committee is responsible for the operational management of ANZACBT. The executive is made up of a range of mental health professionals who are interested in the promotion and effective practice of CBT, and are elected by ANZACBT members.

Ron Chambers - President

I am a Clinical Psychologist and trained at Canterbury University. CBT remains a core focus in my clinical work. I have over 20 years of experience as a clinical psychologist and have worked in both mental health and forensic settings. I currently specialise in the treatment of severe anxiety disorders at the Anxiety Disorders Service, Canterbury District Health Board. I am also the Clinical Leader for Psychology in the Specialist Mental Health Service at Canterbury District Health Board.

Janna Gresham - Secretary and Executive Board Member

I am a registered Occupational Therapist and obtained my Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour through Otago University. I work full time in private practice in Christchurch. I have previously worked in the UK and New Zealand in a variety of mental health inpatient and community settings. Before starting my private practice I worked for 12 years in Christchurch GP surgeries offering CBT and short term psychological therapy for people struggling with stress, anxiety and depression.

janna@christchurchcbt.co.nz

Faye Hanna- Treasurer (Special Interest in Accreditation)

Faye originally trained as a Psychiatric Nurse in the hospital system and then trained as NZ Reg General Nurse gaining experience in both fields. Following the restructuring of Psychiatric Services throughout NZ and closure of the bigger hospitals, she was involved in the development of the Community Mental Health Team in the Gore area. Although she had trained very much in a medical model she was always more drawn to the psychotherapeutic models of care and enjoyed completing the 3 year Theory of Psychotherapy program at Ashburn Hall. She then moved into the Primary Sector where she is currently employed in Brief Intervention Service in Southland covering 5 rural areas.

Karen Murphy is a registered clinical psychologist and trained at the University of Waikato. She currently works for Waikato District Health Board in the Hauraki Rural Mental Health and Addictions Service. CBT is the foundation of Karen’s clinical work within the community adult mental health team. She also has a small caseload with the infant child and adolescent team based in Thames and values the opportunity to work with such a diverse range of people.

Simone Kinley- Executive Board Member (Special Interest in Accreditation)Simone Kinley is a registered mental health nurse currently working for the Canterbury District Health Board at the Mothers & Babies Service specialising in the treatment of woman in the perinatal period with mental illness. Prior to this she worked for 18 years at the Anxiety disorders Service treating anxiety and depression. Recently Simone cemented her work experience by completing a Postgraduate Diploma at Otago University endorsed in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Simone is involved in the teaching of Talking Therapies, Basic Principles of CBT- for mental health nurses and allied health staff. She has been a member of AnzaCBT for some years and part of the Christchurch AnzaCBT conference organising committee.

Robyn has lived in the Franklin area for more than 20 years, and has recently begun working in private practice as a registered psychologist. She specialises in the use of cognitive behaviour therapies (CBT) in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders in adults, and has a particular interest in addressing these issues in rural communities. During her career in mental health she has worked for statutory services and non-government agencies, where her focus has been on the involvement of families in the management of serious mental illness.

Fiona is a clinical psychologist, with 25 years’ experience working with adults across a wide range of problems particularly anxiety and depression. She has been in private practice in Wellington for the past 10 years. Fiona is also a senior lecturer with the University of Otago, Wellington, where she has taught post graduate cognitive behaviour therapy for the past 17 years. She has had articles on cognitive behaviour therapy published in local and international academic journals. She regularly attends local and international conferences and workshops on cognitive therapy. She is involved in research into competence development in CBT, brief interventions in primary care and metaphorical language in CBT. Fiona is a fellow of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists and currently serves on the New Zealand Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

Carolyn Lawton-Childs- Executive Board Member

I am a counsellor (NZCCA member) with a psychology background having studied at Canterbury in the 1980s. I completed the PGDip CBT through Massey University in 2016. I am based in Christchurch and was working in youth mental health. My current role is as a counsellor in palliative care and bereavement. CBT has become my core therapeutic approach.

Catherine Shields- Executive Board Member

Catherine is an Occupational Therapist who has been practicing mainly in NZ for over twenty years. She has worked primarily in District Health Board settings in a broad range of both physical and mental health environments. Her interest is in working with adults with mental health difficulties, enabling participation in valued occupations and facilitating learning through the recovery process. She completed her Post Graduate Diploma in CBT at Massey University in 2008 and went on to integrate this into her clinical practice. Catherine lives in Auckland and is interested in mindfulness, the arts, coffee, friends and family.

Sue Corkill- Executive Board Member

I am an ex-oncology nurse with a passion for psycho-oncology. I have worked in Wellington DHB Haematology and Oncology Unit, the Cancer Society and the Child Cancer Foundation. I gained my Post Graduate Diploma in CBT through Massey University. I have recently completed my Post Grad Diploma in Counselling and in Feb 2019 will begin as a CBT therapist and counsellor at St Georges Cancer Care Unit in Christchurch.

Aramis Dennan- Administration Assistant

Aramis is currently studying towards his DClinPsych at Massey University Albany. He completed his BSc(Hons) at the University of Auckland in 2015. His current research looks at whether sexism processes impact young adults' engagement with dating applications.